YDF in Mozambique: Self-esteem and a change of attitude contributing to a peaceful future

Mozambique is situated in the south-east of Africa. The country borders the Indian Ocean with a coastline of some 2,500 km. After ten years of struggle for liberation, Mozambique attained independence from Portugal in 1975. From 1977 to 1992, the country was again involved in armed conflict, this time in the form of an intense civil war, which left the country in an economic and social recession. Peace only returned in 1992 and the country became relatively stable for the first time in decades. Today Portuguese-speaking Mozambique is a multi-party democracy and is considered an African success story with an eight per cent average annual growth rate; nevertheless, the country remains poor and most of its citizens earn a meager living from small-scale agriculture. After the war, the construction of schools and the training of teachers did not keep up with population growth, the result being a highly negative effect on education. HIV/AIDS constitutes another major problem, with an estimated 13 per cent of adults aged 15-49 years either living with the virus or suffering from the disease. The youth is even more strongly affected and HIV/AIDS prevalence is far higher in the central provinces of Sofala, Manica, Tete and Zambezia given that these are the transport corridors from neighbouring countries to the ports of Nacala and Beira.

A focus on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention

Against this backdrop, the Youth Development through Football (YDF) project considered Mozambique a suitable partner country. Together with GTZ's 'Multisectoral HIV/AIDS Control in Mozambique' project, YDF embarked on a cooperation agreement with the Lurdes Mutola Foundation in 2009. The non-governmental organisation was founded by and named after the homonymous Mozambican Olympic champion. It focuses on sports-based youth and educational development in the Manica and Sofala provinces and on fostering the entrepreneurial skills of girls and boys. The foundation's 'Sport for Development' strategy is aimed at training coaches to combine health and hygiene issues with football-league activities. Behavioural-change communication also forms part of the programme.

Reestablishing self-esteem in the youth

YDF's support to the Lurdes Mutola Foundation is targeted at reestablishing self-esteem in the Mozambican youth after all the years of civil war. Issues such as conflict and violence prevention and political and social participation are high on the agenda. YDF is also assisting the foundation with a small grant campaign for youth and women's associations in and around Manica Province. By the end of 2009, 51 coaches had been trained by the foundation, among them 12 women. Their regular training combines football with life-skills sessions on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and on project management and funding. It reaches up to 700 youths in the province.

Last stop, Manica

Mozambique was the last station for a YDF caravan that toured the partner countries in early May 2010 in order to increase the excitement among the African youth ahead of the World Cup. In partnership with GIZ's 'Decentralisation Programme' in Mozambique, YDF used the opportunity to convey the idea of youth development through football both to current and potential stakeholders and organised a football tournament - combined with life-skills sessions - in cooperation with the Lurdes Mutola Foundation in Manica City. Manica is located 75 km from the provincial capital of Chimoio, and only 15 km from the border with Zimbabwe. A team from Zimbabwe's third largest city of Mutare, which is likewise closely located to the border, also participated in the tournament.